Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating war. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are fighting for power and control of the country. For civilians, the conflict has created a humanitarian catastrophe of historic proportions.

More than 13 million people have been displaced, according to figures cited in the source material. Around nine million have been displaced within Sudan, while approximately 4.5 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries, including Chad, South Sudan and Egypt.
At the same time, millions of people are facing hunger. Access to food, medicine and other essential supplies has collapsed or been severely disrupted across many parts of the country.

El Obeid: A City Under Enormous Pressure

The situation is particularly alarming in El Obeid, a major city in central Sudan. With a normal population of around 500,000, the city is under enormous pressure as it receives large numbers of displaced people.
According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), more than 100,000 people in the area are already receiving assistance.
Humanitarian operations, however, are being severely affected by insecurity, fuel shortages and dangerous transport routes.
Food deliveries cannot always be carried out reliably. For people who have already fled their homes and lost almost everything, every additional day without secure access to food and basic necessities becomes a struggle for survival.

The United Nations has therefore warned of a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Humanitarian Corridors Pope Leo XIV has also expressed deep concern over the situation in Sudan, particularly the crisis in El Obeid.
He called on those responsible to guarantee humanitarian corridors for civilians, allowing desperately needed assistance to reach affected communities.
At the same time, he appealed to the international community to support efforts toward an immediate ceasefire.
The Pope’s appeal highlights the urgency of the situation. Without safe access to affected areas, humanitarian organizations can operate only under extremely difficult conditions.

Darfur Remains Gripped by Violence

Severe violence continues to be reported from Darfur.
According to Emergency Lawyers, 35 people were killed in a drone strike on the village of Garra al-Sawaja, which was reportedly under RSF control.
According to the reports, civilians had gathered there to attend traditional hearings concerning local cases and disputes.
Among those reportedly killed were four tribal leaders and two RSF commanders.
The incident once again demonstrates how dangerous the situation has become for civilians. Even places where communities are attempting to maintain local structures and a degree of normal life are not protected from the violence.

Millions Trapped Between Hunger and Displacement

The war has devastated large parts of the country and forced millions of people from their homes.
Many displaced Sudanese are living in camps or makeshift shelters. Others have crossed international borders in search of safety.
Countries such as Chad and South Sudan are themselves facing serious humanitarian challenges. Hosting large numbers of refugees places additional pressure on already fragile systems.
The consequences of the Sudan war therefore extend far beyond the country’s borders. It has become a regional humanitarian crisis.

A Power Struggle with Devastating Consequences

At the center of the conflict are the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. While the armed parties fight for political and military control, civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden.
Homes have been destroyed, families separated and livelihoods wiped out. Hospitals and other essential services have been severely disrupted in many areas.
For millions of Sudanese people, the war is not an abstract political struggle. It means hunger, fear, displacement and the loss of their livelihoods.

The International Community Cannot Look Away

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan must not become a forgotten crisis.
The international community must continue working to protect civilians, establish safe humanitarian corridors and ensure humanitarian organizations can reach people in need.
At the same time, serious diplomatic efforts are needed to end the fighting and create a path toward a political settlement.
A ceasefire alone will not undo the devastation caused by the war. But it could create the urgently needed space to expand humanitarian assistance, protect civilians and prevent further bloodshed.

Sudan Needs More Than Headlines

Behind every statistic are human beings.
Behind the millions of displaced people are families who were forced to abandon their homes. Behind the hunger figures are children and adults who do not know where their next meal will come from. Behind every report of a death is a person with a family, hopes and a life destroyed by war.

Sudan is facing a humanitarian catastrophe of enormous proportions.

The international community must not wait until another city falls or another massacre makes international headlines.
Sudan needs attention. Sudan needs humanitarian assistance. And above all, Sudan needs peace.

Sources

– Agence France-Presse (AFP) — reporting on the situation in Sudan
– United Nations (UN) — humanitarian situation and conditions in El Obeid
– World Food Programme (WFP) — hunger, displacement and humanitarian assistance in Sudan
– Vatican News — statements and appeals by Pope Leo XIV
– Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) — humanitarian situation in El Obeid
– Emergency Lawyers — reports concerning human rights violations and attacks in Sudan

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane G. Meskel has strongly condemned repeated calls for “sovereign access to the sea,” particularly statements suggesting that force could be used to achieve such ambitions. Eritrea maintains that any claim targeting its coastline, including Assab and the Dahlak Islands, is unacceptable and violates the fundamental principles of international law.

According to Eritrean officials, recent statements by Ethiopian political and military figures, including references to celebrating on the shores of the Red Sea and maps depicting Eritrean territory as part of Ethiopia, reveal a dangerous and expansionist narrative that threatens regional peace and stability.

For Eritrea, independence was earned through a 30-year liberation struggle and the sacrifice of tens of thousands of martyrs. That independence is internationally recognized and cannot be questioned. Eritrea insists that its sovereignty, borders, and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

Yemane G. Meskel has described the Prosperity Party’s communication strategy as one built on political spectacle, deception, disinformation, and unrealistic ambitions. He argues that such rhetoric serves only to inflame tensions rather than promote dialogue and cooperation.

Eritrea continues to emphasize that lasting peace in the Horn of Africa depends on full respect for sovereignty, internationally recognized borders, and the UN Charter. From Asmara’s perspective, stability cannot be achieved through threats, coercion, or territorial ambitions, but only through mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

Eritrea’s position remains clear and unwavering: its sovereignty is not open to negotiation, its territory is not subject to bargaining, and any attempt to challenge its independence will be firmly rejected.

Source: Based on public statements and official communications by Eritrean Information Minister Yemane G. Meskel.

More than seven million people in South Sudan are in urgent need of food assistance. Children are suffering from severe malnutrition, mothers are struggling to survive, and entire communities face the daily threat of hunger. Yet despite the scale of this humanitarian catastrophe, global attention remains alarmingly limited.

Where are the headlines? Where are the emergency summits and special broadcasts? Where are the world leaders speaking about their moral responsibility? The uncomfortable truth is that African suffering too often receives only a fraction of the attention given to crises elsewhere.

When South Sudan gained independence in 2011, millions celebrated the birth of the world’s newest nation. There were hopes for peace, prosperity, and national development. Instead, years of political rivalry, armed conflict, and weak institutions have pushed the country into repeated cycles of instability. Today, ordinary families are paying the highest price.

The current crisis is particularly severe in Jonglei State, where hundreds of thousands of people are facing extreme hunger. Humanitarian organizations warn that thousands have reached catastrophic levels of food insecurity. At the same time, severe malnutrition among children under five and nursing mothers continues to rise.

The approaching rainy season threatens to make an already desperate situation even worse. Roads will become impassable, aid deliveries will slow, and vulnerable communities may become completely isolated. Humanitarian agencies are racing against time to deliver food and emergency assistance before access routes are cut off.

However, emergency aid alone is not enough.

South Sudan’s crisis is not simply a humanitarian emergency—it is also a political and developmental failure. A nation blessed with vast agricultural potential, natural resources, and a young population should not be facing chronic food insecurity. Hunger on this scale is not inevitable. It is the result of conflict, instability, poor governance, and the failure to build resilient national institutions.

African nations must recognize that instability anywhere on the continent carries consequences far beyond national borders. Lasting solutions require peace, investment in agriculture, modern infrastructure, regional economic cooperation, and a commitment to long-term development rather than short-term crisis management.

The people of South Sudan need immediate food assistance today. But tomorrow they will need something even more important: stability, opportunity, and the ability to build a future free from conflict and dependency.

The humanitarian disaster unfolding in South Sudan should serve as a wake-up call. Silence will not feed hungry children. Indifference will not save lives. The time for statements has passed. What is needed now is action.

Every child suffering from hunger today is a reminder of what happens when political failures are allowed to continue unchecked. The people of South Sudan deserve more than sympathy.

They deserve a future.

“Sanctions against Eritrea were justified for years on security allegations. Yet fundamental questions remain unresolved: Where is the conclusive evidence?”

Until recently, Eritrea was widely portrayed in international discourse as an isolated, sanctioned state under heavy political pressure. In much of the Western media narrative, it was framed as an outlier — a difficult actor, a geopolitical problem at the Horn of Africa.  

Today, however, that tone is shifting. Even the United States appears to be reassessing its stance toward Eritrea. Reports of potential diplomatic re-engagement and discussions surrounding the easing of remaining sanctions suggest a clear shift in geopolitical reality. With this, Eritrea’s strategic relevance is being redefined.  

International politics is undergoing structural transformation. The era of uncontested Western dominance is gradually eroding. New centers of power are emerging, global trade routes are increasingly contested, and strategic regions such as the Red Sea are regaining critical importance.  

What has often been underestimated is Eritrea’s long-term strategic view. While many states adapted their policies to external pressure or short-term interests, Eritrea maintained a consistent focus on sovereignty, independence, and strategic autonomy. This approach brought sanctions, isolation, and sustained criticism but it also preserved Eritrea’s political orbit. That persistence is now reshaping how the country is perceived internationally.  

For years, sanctions against Eritrea were justified on the basis of security allegations and regional instability. Yet fundamental questions remain unresolved.   

Where is the conclusive evidence?  Why was there never a fully transparent international investigation?  Why were severe political measures maintained for so long despite growing doubts about the original claims?  

Across Africa, Eritrea has come to symbolize more than just a state. It represents an attempt by an African nation to define its own path independently of global power blocs. This is not about opposition to the West. Eritrea is not calling for confrontation. It is calling for respect for its policy of self-reliance.  

Among younger generations across the continent, there is growing awareness of how sanctions, narratives, and economic pressure have often been deployed against states that pursue independent political paths. Within this context, Eritrea has gained symbolic significance. Its principled self-reliance policy has allowed it to maintain sovereignty under the shadow of Western political and economic pressure.  

The Horn of Africa is one of the most strategically significant regions in the world. The United States, China, Russia, Gulf states, and other global actors are competing for influence, access, and positioning in the Red Sea corridor.  

In this new geopolitical landscape, Eritrea can no longer be ignored. Its geographic location and sustained political stance place it firmly within the regional playbook being shaped by both Western and Global South powers.  

Reports of possible normalization between Eritrea and the United States reflect a broader shift, international politics is adapting to new realities. Eritrea’s strategic self-reliance policy stands as a lesson in resilience a refusal to collapse under external pressure.  

Eritrea is not seeking special treatment. It is seeking equal treatment and respect for its political stance.  

In the emerging world order, Eritrea will remain in its own political orbit whether the international system chooses to engage with its self-reliance policy or continue relying on pressure and exclusion.  

One fact is already clear, Eritrea can be sanctioned. But it can no longer be ignored. 

By Dr. Nurit Ali
Dr. Nurit Ali is interest in justice and politics